Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will provide information to MoT testers enabling them to confirm that originally fitted catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters are present and operating effectively.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is currently revising the MOT Inspection Manual for cars and light goods vehicles to enable compliance with EU Directive 2014/45/EU. This includes amended advice to detect where catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters have been removed from vehicles where they were fitted as standard. It will be issued by summer 2017.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cars have failed an MoT test since 1 January 2016 as a result of problems with originally fitted catalytic converters or diesel particulate filters, in (1) the UK, and (2) the London area.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Since 1 January 2016 a total of 4,925 cars and light vans have failed an MOT test in GB for defects with the catalytic converter and a further 468 have failed the MOT test for problems with the diesel particulate filter. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency cannot readily separate figures for the London area, and does not have figures from Northern Ireland, as this is a devolved issue.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their timescale for developing methods which can detect the removal or effectiveness of a particulate filter during an MoT check-up; whether they have commissioned research into this; and if so, from whom.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Transport has commissioned research by Ricardo Ltd into how new technology can improve detection of diesel particulate filter removal or the effectiveness of such a filter. It is not possible to give a timescale at this early stage to determine how these findings may be used.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered requiring all authorised MoT test centres to enter information on a database whenever they remove the internal core of a particulate filter, so that other test centres can be required to check with the vehicle’s owner that the filter is working again when it is presented for MoT.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Garages conducting such modifications to particulate filters are generally not MOT garages – and so the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) would not consider such a database to be of value. Where the garage making modifications is an authorised MOT garage, DVSA will take appropriate action against them.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will pursue against garages, drivers or others whose actions have contributed to the illegal driving of vehicles without an originally fitted catalytic converter and diesel particulate filter.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Existing legislation makes the owner or user of the vehicle responsible for its condition. Removal of a diesel particulate filter will almost invariably result in a contravention of the regulations, making the vehicle illegal to use on the road. The potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van. Action can be taken against garages who are promoting services in a way that makes it likely car owners will break the law by making such changes to their vehicle.

Transport: Southampton

Lord Lloyd-Webber: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is an overall strategy for the long-term development of transport links between Southampton and the Midlands, particularly in regard to the volume of freight carried on the A34.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The A34 is part of the Solent to Midlands Route Strategy. Highways England is in the process of updating the route strategy for the A34 which will inform future bids to government for scheme funding. The updated strategies will be published in spring 2017. The updated strategy will reflect the current capacity issues on the A34 and the development proposals which are due to come forward over the coming years including those that could increase the volume of freight.

A34

Lord Lloyd-Webber: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed Oxford and Cambridge expressway, what is the plan for the A34 north of Chieveley.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Minister of State for Transport, the Rt Hon John Hayes CBE MP, alluded to previously in the A34 Safety Westminster Hall Debate on the 26th October 2016, the stage 3 study report for the Oxford to Cambridge expressway was published on 28 November 2016. This study informs current discussions on the future of the A34. Highways England is also currently updating their route strategies, including the Solent to Midlands strategy the includes the A34. These strategies will be published in Spring 2017 and will highlight current route issues as well as challenges for the future. This will inform future infrastructure improvement bids. The current Road Investment Strategy announced two schemes on this section of the A34- Technology enhancements between the M4 and M40 and improvements to the Peartree and Botley interchanges. Highways England is working on options for these schemes.

A34

Lord Lloyd-Webber: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any specific proposals relating to the A34 to the south of the Chieveley interchange; and if so, which agency is responsible for them.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The current A34 safety review includes the section south of Chieveley. Improvements are planned to relieve congestion at the interchange between the A34 and the M3 at Junction 9 as set out in the Road Investment Strategy. Highways England is responsible for the whole of the A34.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Mastercard: Class Actions

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have undertaken any consultation with consumer groups about whether consumers involved in the recent Mastercard court case were adequately protected by the provision of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Consumer Rights Act enhances consumers’ ability to seek full compensation for any detriment suffered as a result of a breach of competition Law. Schedule 8 of the Act amended the Competition Act 1998, expanding the jurisdiction of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), to hear standalone actions (powers akin to those of the High Court) and to hear collective proceedings.A case was filed against Mastercard at the CAT in September this year (by representative Walter Merricks) on behalf of up to 40 million consumers, which is still in its early stages. It is the first claim of its sort, for a potential £14 billion pounds, brought on behalf of all UK consumers who have suffered loss, following the long-running European Commission case that ended in 2014 and the Commission’s decision that Mastercard had infringed EU competition law. Developments in the case can be followed through the CAT website.It would be premature to undertake a consultation on the Act’s impact at present. The Government is required to carry out a full review, consulting a wide variety of stakeholders, including consumer groups, once the Act has been in force for five years.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding alleged reports of withholding of the corpses of Palestinians killed in suspected stabbing attacks.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have raised the return of Palestinian bodies with the Israeli authorities.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions are they having with the government of Israel over reports of the continued demolition and seizure of structures in Area C and East Jerusalem on the grounds of lack of building permits.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We continue to raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities about demolitions with the government of Israel and in international forums. We also continue to urge the government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes. The UK provides technical assistance to support Palestinian communities currently threatened with demolition action to meet the requirements of the Israeli planning system and funding to support long-term planning for Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports of the designation of nearly 30 per cent of Palestinian land in Area C as firing zones for military training.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we regularly press Israel to ease the current restrictive permitting regime and to transfer control of Area C to the Palestinian Authority as per the Oslo Accords.

Israeli Settlements: Water Supply

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel following reports that thirty springs are under full Israeli settler control and inaccessible to Palestinians, with another 26 springs at risk of becoming similarly controlled.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: ​While we have not discussed this specific issue, we regularly raise the issue of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities. We have stressed the urgent need for Israel to take immediate and practical measures to improve the current situation and ensure fair distribution of water in the West Bank and Gaza.

Mohammad Faisal Abu Sakha

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports of the continued administrative detention of Mohammed Abu Sakha.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not raised the particular case of Mr Sakha with the Israeli authorities but we are following his case closely. We remain concerned about Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should only be used when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice, and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, and either charge or release detainees.

Israeli Settlements

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel following reports of the approval of a plan to build a further 770 housing units in the Gilo neighbourhood, south of Jerusalem.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr. Ellwood), issued a statement on 8 December expressing our deep concern about 770 units in Gilo receiving final approval. We strongly condemn the pace of settlement advancement, increased plans for new settlements deep in the heart of the West Bank, and moves to retroactively approve unauthorised settlement outposts. We continue to raise our grave concerns about expansion of Israeli settlements with the Israeli Government.

Andargachew Tsege

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Ethiopia to release the British citizen Mr Andy Tsege; and if not, why not.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK Government has taken every opportunity to raise Mr Tsege’s case at the very highest levels in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Government are in no doubt about our concern for Mr Tsege and the priority we place on his wellbeing. We have not directly called for Mr Tsege’s release. The UK does not interfere in the legal system of other countries by challenging convictions, any more than we would accept interference in our judicial system. Our priority is to ensure Mr Tsege’s wellbeing and access to legal advice. We believe that calling for his release would not be successful at this stage and could put at risk the progress that has been made, including our access to Mr Tsege.

Syria: Military Intervention

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following their calling-in of Russian and Iranian ambassadors to discuss Syria, they will also call in the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss Syria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have regular dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Syria. Both states are members of the International Syria Support Group and supporters of the Syrian opposition. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), recently discussed Syria with Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit on 6 December. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) also attended a likeminded Ministerial meeting in Paris on 10 December at which Saudi Arabia and Qatar were represented.The Foreign Secretary summoned the Russian and Iranian Ambassadors to the UK on 15 December to express the UK Government's profound concern over the actions of Iran and Russia in Syria. The Foreign Secretary made clear that both states have failed to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. It is now imperative that the regime, Russia and Iran implement resolution 2328, providing the UN with unhindered humanitarian access and oversight of evacuation processes to ensure that all civilians and non combatants are properly protected.

Islamic State: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether evidence of atrocities committed by individual UK citizens as members of Daesh is being collected; if so, whether this is being done as part of an investigation into sexual violence in the Middle East; and who is collecting this evidence.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are doing everything we can to assist in the gathering and preservation of evidence that could be used in future by judicial bodies to make a judgement on Daesh crimes. We are providing financial support to a specialist organisation to conduct investigations in Syria and build prosecution ready criminal case files against the high level perpetrators, in accordance with international standards. These cases are built for international prosecution should a referral to the International Criminal Court be forthcoming or should individuals be subject to litigation by hybrid, specialised or national courts.We are also funding a project through our Human Rights and Democracy Programme, aimed at improving the documentation of sexual violence and other gender based cases in a victim sensitive way, in several areas of Iraq. The project is training a team of human rights defenders to document sexual violence and establish a database of cases across a two year period to inform policy development in the government of Iraq.As a first step in the 'Bringing Daesh to Justice' campaign, we are working with the government of Iraq to bring a proposal before the United Nations on evidence gathering and preservation in Iraq. It is vital that this is done now, before evidence is lost or destroyed.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Lord Oates: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims following a recent attack on the Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Chakwal in Pakistan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We condemn the attack on the Ahmadiyya mosque in Chakwal on 12 December. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of people based on their beliefs. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities, including religious minorities at senior level, with the government of Pakistan. During his visit to Pakistan in November, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) raised religious tolerance and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens. The Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.

Islamic State: Crimes against Humanity

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 20 April (HC Deb, col 996) concerning the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account for its crimes against Shi’a and Sunni Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Kurds and other groups, what steps they are taking to ensure that genocide committed against Christians is included in their proposals for the prosecution of Daesh.

Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare: The Government is committed to ensuring there is no impunity for these heinous crimes committed by Daesh, as shown by the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson)'s launching of the global campaign Bringing Daesh to Justice. As a first step in this campaign, we are working with the government of Iraq to bring a proposal before the UN on evidence gathering and preservation in Iraq. It is vital that this is done now, before evidence is lost or destroyed. This campaign is about justice for all Daesh victims and we expect it to cover all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of international human rights law by Daesh including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Northern Ireland Office

Civil Servants: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the protection of Northern Ireland civil servants from inappropriate political interference and influence.

Lord Dunlop: The Northern Ireland Office has had no discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the protection of Northern Ireland civil servants from inappropriate political interference and influence. The conduct of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is a devolved matter.

Department for International Development

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to address the reported humanitarian and human rights crises in Rakhine State, Burma.

Lord Bates: The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State and allegations of human rights abuses. In response, UK Ministers and Ambassador have called on both civilian and military Minsters in the Government to urge a restrained response in line with international human rights standards, immediate and unfettered access for humanitarian aid and an investigation into allegations of human rights violations. Baroness Anelay, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, visited Burma from 9-12 November specifically to address issues of human rights, with a focus on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict.The UK has long been one of the biggest bilateral humanitarian donors to Burma and to Rakhine State. Since 2012, we have provided over £23 million in humanitarian assistance. DFID is currently managing to get humanitarian support to over 100,000 people in Rakhine, including providing assistance in IDP camps outside of northern Rakhine and limited support in northern Rakhine. DFID is also continuing to support development activities in Rakhine where possible. DFID stands ready to provide more humanitarian support to people in northern Rakhine State as soon as better access is granted.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma calling for an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid access to Rakhine State, Burma.

Lord Bates: The UK Government has repeatedly urged the Government of Burma to allow the immediate resumption of humanitarian access. Ministers continue to lobby at every occasion. My colleague, the Minister of State Rory Stewart MP, raised the issue personally with Burmese ministers in recent meetings in Burma and the UK. Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay, pressed the Burmese Government in Naypyidaw for the immediate resumption of humanitarian access in Rakhine, and our Ambassador has visited Northern Rakhine together with a number of international counterparts and lobbied five separate Burmese Ministers on this issue. The UK has also discussed the issue at the UN Security Council on 17 November, where we raised our concerns about the lack of humanitarian access.The Government of Burma has now committed to restoring humanitarian access and we are pressing for, and stand ready to support, the delivery of this commitment.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of calls for the UN Secretary-General to visit Burma as a matter of urgency to negotiate humanitarian aid access to Rakhine State, Burma.

Lord Bates: The UN Secretary General visited Burma and raised humanitarian issues with Aung San Suu Kyi in August 2016. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, also raised issues of humanitarian access with Aung San Suu Kyi during his October 2016 visit to Burma.The UK, along with other countries and the UN, continues to urge the Government of Burma to allow immediate unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. The Government of Burma has now committed to restoring humanitarian access and we are pressing for, and stand ready to support, the delivery of this commitment.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma calling for an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid access to Kachin and northern Shan States, Burma.

Lord Bates: The UK Government is deeply concerned by the conflict in Kachin and Northern Shan, and particularly by reports of violations involving civilian casualties and the restriction of humanitarian access to internally displaced people. We continue to raise these issues with the Government of Burma as a matter of urgency, including during the human-rights focused visit to Burma from 9 – 12 November of the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Baroness Anelay.The UK has provided over £18.1 million in essential humanitarian and health assistance in Kachin and Northern Shan states from 2012 until the end of the last financial year, and approximately a further £5 million this year.

Pakistan: Schools

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 December (HL3360), which organisation or agency independently assessed that the implementation of the 2006 national curriculum by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was based on the values of democracy, pluralism and peace.

Lord Bates: The assessment was provided in the review undertaken by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. This is a German development organisation, commonly known as GIZ and owned by the German government. The September 2013 review, ‘An Overview of Curriculum Reform’, examined the implementation of the 2006 national curriculum across Pakistan.

Pakistan: Schools

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 December (HL3360), what consideration was given by the Department for International Development to other international and local assessments of the implementation of the 2006 national curriculum by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Lord Bates: The Department for International Development has taken into consideration a number of reports over recent years which have looked, in part, at implementation of the 2006 national curriculum. These include the November 2011 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, ‘Connecting the Dots: Education and Religious Discrimination in Pakistan’. The Department is currently supporting the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to review its textbooks with the aim of improving overall quality and reducing all forms of bias. This work will be completed by March 2018.

Pakistan: Textbooks

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 December (HL3360), whether, as part of the independent assessment, Urdu books were studied by speakers of Urdu; and if so, which books.

Lord Bates: The independent assessment completed in 2013 by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, ‘An Overview of Curriculum Reform’, looked at the policy implications for government stemming from the new 2006 curriculum. It did not focus specifically on textbooks. The November 2011 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, ‘Connecting the Dots: Education and Religious Discrimination in Pakistan’, looked in more detail at textbooks, including Urdu textbooks for Grades 1 to 10 across Pakistan. The Sustainable Development Policy Institute, a Pakistani think tank organisation, which carried out this review of textbooks for the Commission, used a team of Pakistani Urdu-speaking nationals.

Pakistan: Education

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 December (HL3360), what assessment they have made of the impact on the education of students from religious minorities of reductions by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the budget reserved for religious minorities.

Lord Bates: DFID has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of budget cuts by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the education of students from religious minorities. Cuts were reported to have been made by the Department of Auqaf and Minority Affairs for the financial year 2016/17, reducing the funding available for textbooks and fees for pupils attending Christian schools. All UK financial support to education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is made through the Elementary and Secondary Education Department in support of the government’s five-year Education Sector Plan which supports government schools attended by pupils of all religious backgrounds. No UK funding goes to the Department of Auqaf and Minority Affairs.

Pakistan: Education

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 5 December (HL3360), what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has offered Rs 150 million of British aid funding to the Islamic religious seminary Darul Uloom Haqqani.

Lord Bates: The Islamic religious seminary Darul Uloom Haqqani receives funding from the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Department of Auqaf and Minority Affairs, however, no UK funding has been provided to that Department. All UK financial support to education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is made through the Elementary and Secondary Education Department in support of the government’s five-year Education Sector Plan.

Burma: Rohingya

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to provide assistance to the government of Bangladesh to help meet the humanitarian needs of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Lord Bates: The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the current situation in Rakhine and the persecution of the Muslim minority Rohingya community. The UK Government has repeatedly called on the Government of Bangladesh not to return the people seeking refuge back into danger and we continue to offer support through our work with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme. The UK is the largest provider of food aid to the 34,000 Rohingya refugees already living in official camps in Bangladesh. Since 2014 the UK has provided nearly £8 million to address the humanitarian suffering of Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable Bangladeshi communities that host them. UK-funded humanitarian programmes have benefitted 82,000 people in the south east of Bangladesh. Also in Bangladesh we are increasing access to nutrition, health and education services for refugees living in makeshift settlements and the host communities that support them.The UK Government has also engaged the Government of Burma to urge a restrained security response, an independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses, and for the immediate resumption of access for humanitarian aid. The Government of Burma has now committed to restoring humanitarian access and investigating allegations of human rights abuses. We will continue to monitor and support the delivery of these commitments.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Ethnic Groups

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people of each ethnic group, broken down by religion, were in prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The information requested is provided in the quarterly offender management statistics publication, which is published on gov.uk. A copy of the information is included in the attached table.



prison population by ethnicity and religion
(Excel SpreadSheet, 72.5 KB)

Ministry of Defence

Poland: NATO

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the NATO battalion-sized battlegroup to be established in Poland; which NATO members will contribute; how many NATO personnel will be involved; where the battlegroup will be based; and which will be the lead nation.

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the NATO battalion-sized battlegroup to be established in Lithuania; which NATO members will contribute; how many NATO personnel will be involved; where the battlegroup will be based; and which will be the lead nation.

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the NATO battalion-sized battlegroup to be established in Latvia; which NATO members will contribute; how many NATO personnel will be involved; where the battlegroup will be based; and which will be the lead nation.

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the NATO battalion-sized battlegroup to be established in Estonia; which NATO members will contribute; how many NATO personnel will be involved; where the battlegroup will be based; and which will be the lead nation.

Earl Howe: The information requested is set out in the table below: Host NationFramework NationBased fromContributing NationsNumber of PersonnelDeployed fromEstoniaUKTapaFrance, DenmarkEach Enhanced Forward Presence deployment is expected to have around 1,000 personnel, but this will vary over time due to planned rotations of units.Each Enhanced Forward Presence Battalion will be deployed from early 2017.LatviaCanadaAdaziAlbania, Italy, Poland, SloveniaLithuaniaGermanyRuklaBelgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NorwayPolandUSSeveral locations including Żagań, Świętoszów, Skwierzyna, and BolesławiecRomania, UK

European Fighter Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Typhoon fighter aircraft are in service; how many are serviceable; how many could be serviceable within a week; how many are in longer-term maintenance; and whether any are considered to be in reserve.

Earl Howe: The Forward Fleet comprises serviceable and short term unserviceable aircraft. Typically the short term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification or technical inspection that can arise on a day-to-day basis. The Sustainment Fleet includes aircraft undergoing deep maintenance, upgrade programmes or being held in storage. The total in service Typhoon fleet is 134 airframes, of which 91 airframes are in the Forward Fleet and 43 airframes are in the Sustainment Fleet.

European Fighter Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any Typhoon aircraft are yet to be delivered; and if so, to what timescale.

Earl Howe: The UK has taken delivery of 134 out of 160 Typhoon aircraft ordered, with the remaining 26 expected to be delivered by summer 2019.

Military Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many pilots currently serving in the RAF are qualified to fly (1) the Typhoon, and (2) the Tornado, aircraft.

Earl Howe: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or the security of the Armed Forces.

European Fighter Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the length of time and cost required to retrain a Tornado pilot to fly a Typhoon aircraft.

Earl Howe: The time required to retrain a Tornado pilot to fly a Typhoon aircraft is dependent on a number of factors. However, generally it is expected to take 24 weeks, which is the time to complete the full Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit course. Information regarding the cost to retrain a Tornado pilot to fly a Typhoon aircraft is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tornado Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Tornado fighter aircraft are in service; how many are serviceable; how many could be serviceable within a week; how many are in longer-term maintenance; and whether any are considered to be in reserve.

Earl Howe: The Forward Fleet comprises serviceable and short term unserviceable aircraft. Typically the short term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification or technical inspection that can arise on a day-to-day basis. The Sustainment Fleet includes aircraft undergoing deep maintenance, upgrade programmes or being held in storage. The total in service Tornado GR4 fleet is 68 airframes, of which 46 are in the Forward Fleet and 22 are in the Sustainment Fleet.

Baltic States: Armed Forces

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many British military personnel are now serving in the three Baltic States and what is the current total NATO deployment there.

Earl Howe: The United Kingdom (UK) currently has 21 Service personnel in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as fellow members of NATO. In the Baltic States there is a persistent NATO presence through three NATO Force Integration Units and three NATO-accredited centres of excellence. Since Russia’s actions in Ukraine, we have continually demonstrated our commitment to regional defence and security by contributing to NATO assurance activity, including: providing ships to NATO’s Standing Naval Forces in the Baltic Sea; deploying RAF Typhoons to deliver Baltic Air Policing; and conducting exercises in the region, with 400 UK personnel participating in exercise SILVER ARROW in October 2016. At the Warsaw Summit in July 2016, NATO Allies agreed to enhance the Alliance’s presence in the Baltic States and Poland through the deployment of four highly capable battalions. The UK will be lead the Enhanced Forward Presence battalion in Estonia and it is anticipated that up to 800 UK personnel will be deployed in the Spring of 2017. The contributions from NATO Allies will be:Host NationFramework NationBased fromContributing NationsNumber of PersonnelDeployed fromEstoniaUKTapaFrance, DenmarkEach Enhanced Forward Presence deployment is expected to have around 1,000 personnel, but this will vary over time due to planned rotations of units.Each Enhanced Forward Presence battalion will be deployed from early 2017.LatviaCanadaAdaziAlbania, Italy, Poland, SloveniaLithuaniaGermanyRuklaBelgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NorwayPolandUSSeveral locations including Żagań, Świętoszów, Skwierzyna, and BolesławiecRomania, UK

Military Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for (1) upgrading, or (2) changing the purpose or function of, (a) Typhoon, and (b) Tornado, aircraft.

Earl Howe: There are no plans to upgrade or change the function of Tornado, which is due to be withdrawn from service in 2019. Under Project Centurion, Typhoon is currently undergoing a series of upgrades. These include the integration of Meteor, Brimstone and Storm Shadow missiles, allowing the transition of our air attack capability to Typhoon when Tornado is finally withdrawn from service.

Military Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government under current plans, when will the last (1) Tornado, and (2) Typhoon, aircraft leave service.

Earl Howe: The planned out of service date for Tornado is 2019 and for Typhoon it is 2040.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Voluntary Work

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce the Chairman and panellists for the independent review into full-time social action.

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The Government will announce the Chair of the independent expert advisory panel in due course. The Chair will then select other panellists.

Voluntary Work

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the independent review into full-time social action will consider evidence from the UK, France, and Germany regarding how their respective governments support full-time volunteers.

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The review will gather a variety of evidence on the status of full-time volunteers, including international comparisons where relevant.

Voluntary Work

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the creation of a legal status for full-time volunteers will be considered as part of the independent review into full-time social action.

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The review will look at the kinds of full-time volunteering and social action that young people take part in, and ask how we make it easier to take part in these valuable activities. This will include any legal barriers.

Voluntary Work

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the independent review into full-time social action will accept (1) oral, and (2) written, evidence from the public.

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The study will be led by an independent expert advisory panel. It will be for the panel to decide how it will accept evidence.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Construction

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 8 December (HL3536), what are the planning issues that can cause delay and prevent builders from getting on site and starting work quickly.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Because of the complexities of large sites, local authorities can require additional support to manage their applications, including: assessing pre-commencement conditions; negotiating s106 contributions including infrastructure requirements; and conducting viability and other technical appraisals. This capacity fund will provide support to successful local authorities to complete such work.

Supported Housing: Finance

Lord Bird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the consultation Funding for Future Supported Housing, what steps they are taking to ensure that local top-up funding for supported housing proves sustainable beyond 2020.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government is committed to protecting and boosting the supply of supported housing. We are currently consulting on how to ensure the new funding model for the sector is workable and sustainable and to ensure that it provides value for money for those who use it as well as those who pay for it. The amount of ring-fenced top-up funding will be set on the basis of current projections of future need. Budgets for future years will be determined in the usual way at future Spending Reviews. We are also consulting on appropriate safeguards to ensure that this funding continues to support vulnerable people and promotes the supply of supported housing. The consultation closes on 13 February 2017 – there will then be a Green paper in the spring on our detailed proposals on the top-up funding model, with a final package to be announced in autumn 2017.

Housing Completions

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many housing completions there have been in each year since 2004; and how these figures compare with the recommendations made in the Barker Review of Housing Supply.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Barker Review of Housing Supply made a number of policy recommendations. Estimates of net additional dwellings, the primary measure of housing supply, for England for the years requested are shown in the table below.Housing supply; net additional dwellings (financial year) 2003-04170,9702004-05185,5502005-06202,6502006-07214,9402007-08223,5302008-09182,7702009-10144,8702010-11137,3902011-12134,9002012-13124,7202013-14136,6102014-15170,6902015-16189,650 Source: 'Housing supply; net additional dwellings, England: 2015/16', Table 1https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/housing-supply-net-additional-dwellings-england-2015-to-2016The Government sees building more homes as central to our vision of a country that works for everyone and plans to spend over £25 billion on housing over the Spending Review period. This includes £5.3 billion of new investment as set out in the Autumn Statement.

HM Treasury

Public Sector: Low Pay

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many public sector workers who earn less than £11,000 a year are (1) men, and (2) women.

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many public sector workers who earn less than £11,000 a year belong to a public sector pension scheme provided by their public sector employer.

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many public sector workers who earn less than £11,000 a year and belong to public sector pension schemes are in receipt of the equivalent contribution for basic rate tax relief.

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they provide to public sector employers on the steps they should take to ensure their low-paid workers do not lose basic rate tax relief on their pension contributions, even if they are non-taxpayers; and what steps they take to inform low-paid workers about their pension contributions.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government does not centrally collate data on the annual earnings of public sector workers. Defined Benefit public sector pension schemes operate on a net pay basis. The Partnership scheme, which is a defined contribution scheme open to civil servants and other public sector workers, operates a relief at source system for payment of pension contributions. The Pensions Regulator provides all employers with guidance on how different forms of administering pensions tax relief affect different employees. This guidance is available on its website and it applies to public sector employers in the same way as private sector employers. It is up to the individual schemes how they communicate this information to their employees.

Financial Services: City of London

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to offer early clarification to City institutions on how they will be able to operate within the European Union after Brexit.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Prime Minister has been clear that the Government will set out its position on withdrawing from the EU before Article 50 is invoked. This is consistent with providing clarity to all parties.The Government maintains a close dialogue with market actors across the financial services industry.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce a windfall tax to ensure that participants in Northern Ireland's Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme do not make super profits as a result of their tariff regime.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government does not have plans to introduce such a tax.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure value for money for the taxpayer as a result of the introduction in Northern Ireland of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what supervisory measures they employ to monitor the spending plans of the Northern Ireland Executive, and in view of recent financial mismanagement allegations; what additional measures they will employ; and what steps they are taking to ensure value for money in the future.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Northern Ireland Department of Finance provides the Treasury with monthly electronic returns recording the Northern Ireland Executive’s forecast spending against allocated budgets. It is the Executive’s responsibility to constrain spending within the resources available to it. Scrutiny arrangements in relation to devolved responsibilities, including value for money assessments of the Executive’s spending, are matters for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have been approached by the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss ways in which the anticipated overspend of £400 million on the Executive's Renewable Heat Inventive Scheme can be alleviated.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Treasury Ministers have had no such discussions with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to deal with budgetary pressures within the overall resources available to it, and to manage policy development and implementation of matters within its devolved remit.

Minimum Wage

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 26 October (HL2092), how many cases relating to failure to pay the minimum wage have been considered for criminal investigation; and how many have led to prosecutions.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) receives it. Anyone who believes they have been underpaid NMW or NLW should contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) helpline on 0300 123 1100. HMRC reviews all complaints referred. There have been 13 successful prosecutions for NMW offences since 2007, with 4 of these in the 2016 calendar year. However, prosecutions are not necessarily the best approach in most cases. Criminal sanctions against companies mean that workers – the ultimate beneficiaries of enforcing the NMW and NLW – end up waiting longer for their lost earnings to be paid back.

Sovereign Grant

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which members of the Royal Family are in receipt of the Sovereign Grant; and whether they have any plans to extend the provision of the Grant to (1) Princess Beatrice, and (2) Princess Eugenie.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Sovereign Grant supports the Monarch’s official business, enabling The Queen to discharge her duties as Head of State. It meets the central staff costs and running expenses of Her Majesty’s official household. It also covers maintenance of the Royal Palaces in England and the cost of travel undertaken by Members of the Royal Family to carry out official engagements. Together, Members of the Royal Family complete over 3,000 engagements a year across the UK - many more than The Queen could undertake alone. There are no plans to extend the Grant to other Members of the Royal Family in their own right.

Television: Russia

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Russian Television, based in Edinburgh, has paid in full all taxes and charges due and complied with any United Kingdom statutory requirements.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: HMRC has a statutory duty of confidentiality and therefore is unable to comment on individual cases. UK tax law applies to all individuals and organisations that operate within the UK, and HMRC are responsible for ensuring the law is adhered to. Failure by any individual or organisation to comply with their statutory obligations is dealt with consistently.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Lord Hain: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the agreement on the government of Wales’ Fiscal Framework published on 19 December compensates for the lower percentage increase in income tax receipts in Wales compared to the UK since 2010–11.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: As set out in the Welsh Government’s fiscal framework, the UK and Welsh governments have agreed to apply a block grant adjustment for each band of income tax separately. Doing so will fully account for the different proportions of basic, higher and additional rate income tax payers in Wales and the rest of the UK.This means that the Welsh Government will hold an appropriate set of risks and opportunities regarding their new income tax powers, as part of a wider funding agreement that the UK and Welsh governments agree is fair for Wales and fair for the rest of the UK.

Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Energy Policy

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to remain part of the European Union energy union following Brexit.

Lord Bridges of Headley: The Government is carefully considering all aspects of our future relationship with the European Union, including the energy acquis. We want to achieve the best possible outcome for the UK.

Department for International Trade

World Trade Organisation

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK pays a subscription to the World Trade Organisation; and if so, what is the amount.

Lord Price: The UK does pay a subscription to the WTO. The UK’s net contribution to the WTO budget for 2016 was 7,441,960 Swiss francs (£4,989,388) and was paid on 1 March 2016.

Department of Health

Hepatitis

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people they estimate will need to receive hepatitis C treatment in England over the next 13 years in order to achieve the World Health Organisation's goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016-21 proposes milestones and targets to achieve the aim of eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat. The WHO’s strategy highlights the role of prevention activities, including blood safety, safe injections, and harm reduction interventions among people who inject drugs. The strategy also sets a 2030 target that 80% of eligible persons with chronic hepatitis C are treated. A copy of the strategy is attached. An estimated 160,000 persons are currently infected with hepatitis C in England, many of whom are not yet diagnosed.



WHO strategy
(PDF Document, 1.06 MB)